65D - POLICE OVERSIGHT - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chapter 6. Coalition Building Who will I need to bring together in my community to begin this process? The importance of building a broad coalition of community support for oversight cannot be understated. In the absence of political support from local government or police officials, a strong community coalition can effectively advocate for additional resources, media and public attention, and push for action. Usually, the core group of persons who begin the process of implementation are not sworn police officers but volunteer citizen activists who jump at the window of opportunity that is provided by a civil disturbance, or other crisis. These few will then build a network of like-minded individuals, tapping into existing community -based organizations, civil society groups, and faith communities to assemble a visible coalition that is willing to engage policy and decision -makers in local government or key positions of influence. Some of the initial work is therefore focused on building relationships and developing an effective strategy as to how to best intervene in key institutions. This is not work that is easily done alone, as no one individual or group is likely to possess all of the qualities necessary to effect the type of structural changes that are being sought. In light of this, teamwork is essentially a requirement. Core leaders tend to be committed social justice advocates and other professionals willing to devote considerable time and energy to being change agents. They will likely need to be both courageous and compassionate to effectively address perceived injustice as well as the normal resistance to change that is inherent in most institutions. These leaders may be confronted with intense criticism and will need to exhibit emotional strength in order to facilitate the patience and the persistence that are required for success. Coalition members will ideally be recruited from multiple sectors of society. They may include aggrieved citizens, elected officials, government workers, media professionals, academics, journalists, students, teachers, and current and former law enforcement officers. All of these groups represent community stakeholders who may have an influence on the eventual outcome of efforts to establish oversight. Longevity in this field is almost always a function of a strong peer support network. Oversight practitioners need to be supported by those they can trust to maintain confidentiality and who can offer guidance from similar experience from their own jurisdiction. Police oversight can be stressful work, and it is undoubtedly helpful to be able to turn to others who have faced similar, if not identical, challenges. 18 65D-147